Three escape from Santa Ana prison
The three inmates that escaped from Santa Ana prison had been planning their escaper for over 6 months. To be precise, they had been discussing and strategizing since July 15th. It was Nayeri and Tieu who initiated the planning and when Duong joined the prison in Dec 2015, the trio planned the escape for the following month. They all escaped on January 22 of this year.
The inmate count was made and the trio escaped about 15 minutes after the headcount. It is believed that they made their way out through pipes and then climbing down the tall prison building using rope.
Once they were out of the building, they had a close accomplice who picked them up and then drove them away from Santa Ana.
The trio travelled to many locations, including Westminster and Huntington Beach. They travelled using a ‘kidnapped’ cab driver and his vehicle. The cab driver wasn't harmed, but there was a fight between Duong and Nayeri about whether to kill the cab driver or not. Thankfully, the cab driver was unharmed and has fully cooperated with the investigation.
The cab driver was forced to stay with them in several motels and inns during their two weeks of ‘freedom’.
It almost seems like a plot straight out of the movies; the trio proceeded to get new hairstyles at a trendy salon, and then went to a Target store to buy new clothes. This was when Dung decided to turn himself in.
Nayeri and Tieu were later spotted outside a Whole Foods Market where their white van was reported immediately, as someone recognised it from the description on the news. Nayeri attempted to run away but he was captured and Tieu was captured at the van.